Top 10 Snowboard Resorts

Whistler, Canada – Best for powder

Whistler is arguably one of the best winter sports destinations in the world and is the best snowboarding resort, with incredible snow parks everywhere and more being constantly added. Whistler has it all – 38 lifts, accessing over 8000 acres of varied and challenging terrain, amazing backcountry access, bowls, steeps, trees, three terrain parks on Whistler, three terrain parks on Blackcomb a superpipe and a boardercross track.

Whistler provides major riding for all styles and levels, especially backcountry, and an amazing park and pipes. You can board over 3000 acres and the free-riding terrain is magnificent and easily accessible, allowing you to cruise off-piste for hours without seeing another boarder. Whistler see's an average of 10.16m of snowfall a year, double most European resorts. Whether you want to ski, snowboard or tackle another equally thrilling winter sport, the world’s number one resort is the place to go.

Davos, Switzerland – Best for intermediates

Davos has become one of the top snowboard destinations in the world and is spread across five different mountains, giving you plenty of places to explore on your board. Davos has some of the most varied snowboarding terrain in Switzerland: wide open cruising trails, steep narrow chutes and gullies, open powder fields – the off-piste opportunities are incredible. Jakobshorn is the centre for snowboard action with plenty of other action in each of the areas. It has a park where freestylers can eat their heart out with kickers, superpipe, rails as well as a boardercross park. While the Jatz Junior snow park has kickers, rails and a monster-pipe with night-riding every Friday. The snow park on Bolgen has another monster-pipe and is floodlit until 9:30pm four days a week.

L’Espace Killy, France – Europe’s most friendly snowboard resort

L’Espace Killy is the ski area combining the two world class resorts of Tignes and Val d’Isere. Together, they have 300km of pistes and reliable snow conditions due to their 2100 altitude. It is a very highly rated resort by snowboarders. The real snowboard heartland is over in Tignes, one of Europe’s most snowboard friendly resorts, and boasts the best half pipe in the Alps, excellent snow parks and some fantastic off-piste opportunities. If there is a lack of fresh powder it will limit the freeride options, as the best runs are skied out almost instantly. Tignes is also a good destination for less confident or accomplished riders because the slopes immediately above the resort aren’t as steep. There are two snowparks in the Espace Killy, the one in Val is close to the Mont Blanc chairlift and boasts a variety of jumps and rails which cater for all abilities.

St Anton, Austria – Some of the best terrain

St Anton has the best terrain for a ski holiday in Austria, although it is not very well suited to beginners to get the best out of the slopes you should be at least intermediate level. Experienced snowboarders are attracted by the endless off-piste opportunities despite the long walk-outs from some of the best routes. If you want to go outside these marked areas there are plenty of guiding companies that will take you. Freestylers can check out the terrain park on the old Masslift stretch at Rendl which includes a half pipe, barriers, two quarter pipes, washboard, table top, slide and a long jump. St Anton is a serious freerider resort and you’ll be amazed at how quickly the place gets ridden out. If you head to St Anton you should definitely try the slopes at Lech, one of the snowiest resorts in the Alps, access can be gained via the St Anton lift pass.

Serre Chevalier, France – A snowboarder’s heaven

This resort is one of the best places to ride in France, it has seriously good terrain. If you want to get the adrenaline going there are some extreme drop-offs and tight trees to weave around as well as countless banks. The whole place is a massive, natural fun park and there is a terrain park with a half pipe located in Villeneuve. Serre Chevalier is one of the best places to ride in France. It boasts great freeriding with powder and full-on freestyle terrain.

Mayrhofen, Austria – Boasts one of the best parks

Mayrofen is a great place for snowboarders with fantastic freeriding and one of the best parks in Austria. The park is world class and sits next to a super-fast four-man chair, it includes an excellent half pipe that sits between the two sides of the park. Mayrhofen hosts ones of the greatest shows on snow, the Snowbombing festival, which is an exhilarating week-long festival that embraces music from a wide spectrum of artists. Its highest peak is 2,500 so the resort can sometimes suffer from poor snow conditions but there is plenty of snowmaking to cover the main trails.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming – Best for experts in North America

There is nowhere else quite like a ski holiday in Jackson Hole, it boasts a combination of top-quality snow, challenging terrain and a go-for-it attitude. There is a massive variety of advanced and expert terrain on offer. With most if its terrain rated black, it is certainly a resort that will appeal to snowboarders who are looking for a challenge. Jackson Hole is packed with extreme-skiers who will ride the mountain out first thing on a powder day so you will have to get up there early if you want some serious powder. The resort also offers some great back country free riding and the best riding can be found on Rendezvous Mountain, which was once noted for having the biggest vertical descent in the US. Although the real draw is the natural terrain and snow conditions there is a terrain park and half pipe at the base of the Après Vous Mountain for those who prefer.

Ischgl, Austria – Welcomes boarders with open arms

Ischgl is very big on boarding and was one of the resorts that embraced the winter sport while others eyed it suspiciously. The resort boasts one of the best terrain parks in Europe and adds new features to it every season. The Rennstrecke funpark is located between Idjock and Idalp and features a championship standard half pipe, jumps, a quarter pipe, rails, a boarder–cross course and a timed race course. Freeriders have a large high altitude area, although there is nothing particularly hard core, its good snowfall means you are likely to always find an untracked path.

Chamonix, France – Lots of natural jumps

Chamonix offers some truly excellent freeriding and great natural freestyle terrain. It is the place to go if you are after some hardcore riding because it has steep faces, glacial runs, trees and couloirs. It has excellent facilities and a snowboard vibe that is hard to match in any other resort. Boarders and freestylers will like the natural jumps, quarters, and gullies of Le Tour and La Flegere while there is also plenty of off-piste terrain. Chamonix is primarily a freeride mountain resort, although there is a permanent pipe in Grands Montets.

Verbier, Switzerland - Best for experts in Europe

Verbier attracts rides from all corners of the globe and is the Swiss equivalent of Chamonix. It is one giant natural fun park with something for everyone. The lines you get in Verbier are some of the best in Europe and it is a must go for any serious boarder. It offers some of the best terrains for snowboarding; natural and extremes. There is plenty on offer for boarding and combined with Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz and Val de Bagnas it forms the 4 Vallees. Verbier’s snow park is right by La Chaux and there is also another skier/boarder cross area at Snowpark Taillay above La Tzoumaz.